PHARM 222L:

PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICINAL

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY

ACTIVITY #: 1

TITLE:
Detection of Common Elements in Drug
Samples
GROUP #: 6
CONTRIBUTION MEMBERS
Experiment 1&2 ESTABILLO ANA KRISTA MEJIA
Experiment 3&4 GANITANO, ANGEL DOMINICA
TAGELO
Experiment 5 GARABILES, SOPHIA FRANCHESKA
BILOG
Experiment 6 GUMABAY, CHRISTALYN SEGNABEN
Experiment 7 HAMBON, FRANCELYN BANGO
 ACTIVITY 1
Detection of Common
Elements in Drug
Samples
Drug Samples:
Drug Name Chemical Structure
Aspirin

Paracetamol

Na Barbital

Caffeine

Sulfamerazine

Chlorobutanol
Test Procedures:
1. Test for acidity and alkalinity
Place pieces of moistened red and blue litmus papers at the mouth of the test tubes containing 2mL each
of the sample solutions. Gently heat the solutions and observe for color changes of the litmus papers.

Litmus paper

Drug sample

red to blue blue to red

blue to blue red to red

Answer: Place a check mark

Aspirin Paracetamol Sodium Caffeine Sulfamerazine Chlorobutanol
Barbital
Acid    
Base  
2. Test for Hydrogen and Oxygen
Place 0.2 g each of the samples in separate dry test tubes and gently heat. Observe what forms on the
sides of the tube.

Positive: The
appearance of moist in
the side of the test tube

Answer: Place a check mark

Aspirin Paracetamol Sodium Caffeine Sulfamerazine Chlorobutanol
Barbital
Positive      
Negative
 3. Test for Carbon
Place a pinch of each of the samples in separate test tubes and heat strongly. Observe the residue that
forms.

Positive: Formation of a
black residue

Answer: Place a check mark

Aspirin Paracetamol Sodium Caffeine Sulfamerazine Chlorobutanol

Barbital
Positive  
Negative    

4. Test for Nitrogen

In dry test tubes, mix 0.2g of the samples with 0.2g of soda lime. Heat the mixture and expose water
moistened red litmus paper to the fumes. Observe the change that occurs in the red litmus paper and note
the odor of the fumes formed.
Red Litmus
paper
Positive: Red to blue
litmus paper and an
ammonia like odor

Drug sample w/
soda lime

Answer: Place a check mark

Aspirin Paracetamol Sodium Caffeine Sulfamerazine Chlorobutanol
Barbital
Positive    
Negative  
5. Test for Halogen
a. Beilsten Test: Clean a copper wire and then dip into the sample solutions. Perform a flame test and
observe the color imparted to the flame to identify the specific halogen present.

Answer: Place a check mark

Aspirin Paracetamol Sodium Caffeine Sulfamerazine Chlorobutanol
Barbital

Positive 

Negative     

6. Test for Sulfur and Phosphorus

Mix 0.2g each of the samples with 0.5g each of potassium nitrate and sodium carbonate in a crucible. Heat until
oxidation is completed. Allow the mass to cool then dissolve in about 20 mL of distilled water. Acidify the solution using
dilute nitric acid then divide the solution into two portions. To the second portion, test for phosphorous by adding 3 to
5 drops of ammonium molybdate T.S. Observe for the formation of precipitate in both solutions.

First portion: Test for Sulfur Positive: Formation of a White Precipitate

To the first portion, test the presence of sulfur by adding 3 to 5 drops of barium chloride T.S.
Answer: Place a check mark
Aspirin Paracetamol Sodium Caffeine Sulfamerazine Chlorobutanol
Barbital
Positive 
Negative     
Second Portion: Test for Phosphorus
Positive: Formation of a Yellow Precipitate

Answer: Place a check mark

Aspirin Paracetamol Sodium Caffeine Sulfamerazine Chlorobutanol
Barbital
Positive
Negative      
7. Test for Phenyl or Benzene Ring
a. Millon’s Test: To 1mL of the sample solutions, add a few drops of Millon’s reagent and observe the
color of the solution.

Positive: reddish-brown coloration or precipitate

Answer: Place a check mark

Aspirin Paracetamol Sodium Caffeine Sulfamerazine Chlorobutanol
Barbital
Positive 
Negative     

b. Ferric Chloride Test: To 1mL of the sample solutions, add a few drops of ferric chloride test solution.
Observe the color of the resulting solution.

Positive: formation of a blue, violet, purple, green, or red-brown color or precipitate

Answer: Place a check mark

Negative Positive

Aspirin Paracetamol Sodium Caffeine Sulfamerazine Chlorobutanol

Barbital
Positive 
 Negative     

Scoring:
1 point each